Four Rules of Gun Safety
- All guns are Always Loaded– ALL THE TIME.
- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
- Be sure of your target, and WHAT IS BEYOND IT!
Nearly all accidental firearm injuries and deaths result from failure to follow these rules. These rules must be followed whenever you handle a firearm. New users: Practice the rules so they are second nature. Experienced users: Have you become complacent? Do not allow your experience to turn into complacency.
1. All guns are Always Loaded– ALL THE TIME
- Even if you are certain the weapon is empty, always treat it as a loaded gun.
- Don’t do anything with an unloaded gun that wouldn’t be safe with a loaded gun. Many people have been accidentally killed by “unloaded” guns.
- Never accept another person’s word that a gun is unloaded—verify this for yourself.
Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy
- Imagine a laser beam coming out of the barrel of your weapon. Never let that laser touch anything—even for a moment—that you aren’t willing to shoot.
- Keep the weapon pointed in a direction that will safely stop any bullet fired.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target
- Keep your index finger extended along the frame of the weapon until your sights are on your target and you want to fire.
- This prevents you from unintentionally firing because you were startled or clutched something with your other hand.
4. Be sure of your target, and WHAT IS BEYOND IT!
- Always positively identify your target as what you intend to shoot.
- Be absolutely certain of what or who you are shooting.
- Bullets may travel through a target and strike something behind it.
- You may miss, especially under stress.